Midfield playmaker Johan Micoud has left Werder Bremen to return to his homeland and play for Girondins Bordeaux.
Midfield playmaker Johan Micoud has left Werder Bremen to return to his homeland and play for Girondins Bordeaux.
Midfield playmaker Johan Micoud has left Werder Bremen to return to his homeland and play for Girondins Bordeaux. The 32 year old signed a two year deal with the French club until 30.06.2008. The transfare fee is 3 million euros. The Werder general manager Klaus Allofs made a statement on Friday morning: "We accepted Johan's wish to return to his chosen club to end his active career. We would not have been interested in releasing him to go to any other club. Despite the contract he has here until 30.06.2007 we support his move because of what he gave to the club here over the past four years and the part he played in our success."
Johan Micoud, who was officially introduced as a new signing at a press conference in Bordeaux at 11am on Friday, said: "This was a difficult decision for me to make. I wanted to go to Bordeaux because a I have the chance here to play in a strong team in France who, like Werder, have also qualified for the Champions League." Micoud continued: "I had a fantastic time in Bremen and experienced some amazing things with the players and the fans there." Micoud will get the opportunity to say farewell to his adoring fans with a friendly between Werder Bremen and Girondin Bordeaux at the Weser Stadium, a date is yet to be set.
Trainer Thomas Schaaf regrets the loss of his midfield start but can understand his decision: "It was always his wish to return home. It's just a pity that the time has come now. His displays on the pitch were documentation for his will to succeed and he inspired the others around him, for that he deserves a lot of praise. He had an ability and style that few others can copy."
Johan Micoud's move to Bordeaux puts to an end a very successful period for him and Werder Bremen. The Frenchman, who came to Bremen from Parma at the beginning of the 2002/2003 season, showed his class right from the beginning. He played 123 Bundesliga games and was involved in the scoring of 69 goals, 31 of which he scored himself, 38 times as provider. The pinacle of his period in Bremen was the 2003/2004 league and cup double. With the French star in Green and White Werder qualified three times on the trot for the Champions League.
